I was thinking about how JavaScript JSON serializers go about serializing objects. But how does the serializer know about each of the objects properties? I figured JavaScript must have some method of object reflection (similar to .NET Reflection) and it does.
Here's a simple Reflection namespace that allows you to more easily reflect through an objects methods and properties:
if (typeof PietschSoft == "undefined") var PietschSoft = {};
if (typeof PietschSoft.Reflection == "undefined") PietschSoft.Reflection = {};
PietschSoft.Reflection.GetProperties = function(obj){
var props = new Array();
for (var s in obj)
{
if (typeof(obj[s]) != "function") {
props[props.length] = s;
}
}
return props;
};
PietschSoft.Reflection.GetMethods = function(obj){
var methods = new Array();
for (var s in obj)
{
if (typeof(obj[s]) == "function") {
methods[methods.length] = s;
}
}
return methods
};
And, here's some simple code using the above simple reflection api:
/// Define our Person Object
Person = function(){
this.FirstName = "";
this.LastName = "";
};
Person.prototype.TestFunction = function(){return "Test Function";};
// Define our instance of the Person object
var p = new Person();
p.FirstName = "Chris";
p.LastName = "Pietschmann";
/// Loop through the Objects Properties
var props = PietschSoft.Reflection.GetProperties(p);
for (var i in props)
{
alert(props[i] + " : " + p[props[i]]);
}
/// Loop through the Objects Methods
var methods = PietschSoft.Reflection.GetMethods(p);
for (var i in methods)
{
alert(methods[i] + " : " + p[methods[i]]);
}